Amazon Interview Process (2026) — rounds, timeline & what they hire for

How many interview rounds does Amazon have?

Amazon runs 5 round types:

• Online assessment — online coding + work-style assessment · data structures & algorithms, work simulation
• Phone screen — 45–60min video call with live coding · coding plus one or two Leadership-Principle behavioral questions
• Loop: coding ×2 — 45–60min live coding · data structures & algorithms, narrated trade-offs, working code
• Loop: system design — 45–60min design discussion (SDE II and above) · scalable architecture, trade-offs, operational concerns
• Loop: behavioral + Bar Raiser ×2 — 45–60min STAR deep-dives · Leadership Principles evidence; the unannounced Bar Raiser holds veto power

How long does the process take?

Amazon takes 3–8 weeks end to end.

Recruiter screen and (for most SDE roles) an online assessment, one technical phone screen, then a single-day interview loop of four to six 45–60 minute sessions mixing coding, system design, and Leadership-Principle behavioral rounds. A Bar Raiser from outside the hiring team joins the loop and can veto the hire.

What does Amazon look for?

• Customer Obsession — Start with the customer and work backwards.

  • frames impact in terms of customer outcomes, not internal metrics

• Ownership — Think long term; never say 'that's not my job'.

  • took responsibility beyond their role
  • sacrificed short-term wins for long-term value

• Invent and Simplify — Require innovation and always find ways to simplify.

  • replaced a complex process with a simpler one
  • invented rather than patched

• Are Right, A Lot — Strong judgment and good instincts; seek diverse perspectives.

  • changed their mind on evidence
  • made a sound call with incomplete data

• Learn and Be Curious — Never done learning; act to explore new possibilities.

  • learned an unfamiliar domain to solve a problem

• Hire and Develop the Best — Raise the performance bar with every hire and promotion.

  • mentored someone to a measurable step up

• Insist on the Highest Standards — Relentlessly high standards others may find unreasonable.

  • refused to ship at a quality bar others accepted

• Think Big — Create and communicate a bold direction that inspires results.

  • proposed a solution bigger than the ticket in front of them

• Bias for Action — Speed matters; many decisions are reversible.

  • acted with calculated risk instead of waiting for certainty

• Frugality — Accomplish more with less; constraints breed invention.

  • delivered impact without adding headcount or budget

• Earn Trust — Listen attentively, speak candidly, treat others respectfully.

  • owned a mistake publicly and fixed it

• Dive Deep — Operate at all levels, stay connected to the details, audit frequently.

  • found the root cause in the data others skimmed past

• Have Backbone; Disagree and Commit — Challenge decisions respectfully, then commit wholly.

  • pushed back on a superior's decision with data, then executed the final call fully

• Deliver Results — Focus on key inputs and deliver with the right quality, on time.

  • hit the outcome despite setbacks, with numbers to show it

• Strive to be Earth's Best Employer — Build a safer, more diverse, more empowering work environment.

  • improved the team's working conditions or inclusiveness

• Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility — Consider broad impacts and leave things better than found.

  • weighed second-order effects of a decision beyond their team

Insider tips

• Every interviewer owns specific Leadership Principles — tie each story explicitly to one or two.
• Keep STAR answers 2–3 minutes with precise metrics that quantify your impact.
• The Bar Raiser is unannounced and can veto the offer even if everyone else says hire — treat every behavioral round as decisive.
• About half the loop is technical, half behavioral — don't under-prepare the behavioral half.
• Loop feedback typically arrives within 5 business days.

How it varies by team

• SDE I / new grad: Often no system design round — replaced by a second coding or problem-solving session; the online assessment is the main gate.
• AWS: Loops lean harder on system design and operational excellence; expect deeper scalability and on-call trade-off probing.

Most-asked at Amazon

FAQ

Sources

• Amazon: Your complete guide to the Amazon interview process
• Amazon Leadership Principles

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